CCA Second Chance Act Adult Reentry Program

The Center for Community Alternatives’ (CCA) proposed program will provide employment-related and transitional services to men and women incarcerated in the Onondaga County Correctional Facility (OCCF) in Central New York. Most individuals served by the program will return to the City of Syracuse, New York.

Individuals who will benefit from the program reside in high-poverty areas, defined as any census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as measured by the 2013 – 2017 5-year data ACS series.  As noted above, ACS data revealed of the 55 census tracts that comprise the City of Syracuse, 43 (78%) have poverty rates above 20% including three over 75% as well as 14 contiguous Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ).

CCA’s proposed program will provide individuals incarcerated in the Onondaga County jail with job readiness assessments, individualized case plans and employment-related services that result in improved job readiness skills, employment attainment and retention following release as well as reduced recidivism. 

CCA’s proposed SCA Adult Reentry Program will provide 120 individuals incarcerated in the Onondaga County jail with job readiness assessments, individualized case plans and employment-related services resulting in improved job readiness skills, employment attainment and retention as well as reduced recidivism.  Over the three-year grant period, CCA anticipates 120 participants will enroll in the program and complete an Individualized Case Plan pre-release.  Of these, CCA expects 96 participants (80%) will complete job readiness training and 48 participants (40%) will complete a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention pre-release.  Post-release CCA anticipates 84 participants (70%) will engage in community-based services, 48 participants will engage in CCA’s civic restoration services, and 60 participants will be placed in employment or enrolled in educational/vocational programming.  Of the participants placed employment, 60% will retain employment for at least 90 days and 25% will retain employment for at least 12 months. Fewer than 34% will be convicted of a new criminal offense within 12 months of release.  

Funding for CCA’s proposed program will be used to: 1) implement career training for incarcerated individuals at OCCF; 2) continually assess local labor market demand; 3) support partnerships with local employers; 4) conduct individualized reentry planning; 5) connect participants to career/vocational training programs; 6) provide transitional services and supports; and 7) track and monitor employment outcomes.